Former Lakehead player Jounni Kuokkanen has signed a pro contract with the Hockey Club Les Bisons de Neuilly Sur Marne of the French First Division. Kuokkanen graduated from Lakehead this past spring with a History degree and was named an RBC Academic All Canadian.
Kuokkanen had some trouble after his flight to Paris as his bags were mislaid by the airline and they were only located right before his first game against Dunkerque. He couldnt even practise with his team until he received his missing equipment but that didnt faze him as he picked up two points as his squad defeated Dunkerque 9-3.
The smooth-skating Kuokkanen tallied 6 goals and 20 assists in 56 games for Lakehead from 2003-04 to 2004-05 playing forward and defense. Kuokkanen played his Junior hockey for Medicine Hat and Seattle of the WHL and the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL as well as playing for the Manitoba Bisons of the CIS. This will be the Thunder Bay natives second stint in Europe as he played in Holland for the Geleen Smoke Eaters after playing Canadian Major Junior and playing for Manitoba.
Kuokkanen is the third former Thunderwolves player to sign a pro contract this summer; joining Chris Shaffer who signed with Laredo of the CHL and Matt Kenny who joined the expansion Roanoake Valley Vipers of the UHL.